Kraken Have Opportunity to Make Statement on First Big Road Trip
The Seattle Kraken have barely had time to get their sea legs, and already they're being asked to navigate some choppy waters.
After opening the 2026-27 season with a mix of encouraging wins and stumbles against Vegas and Edmonton, there is a lot we still don’t know about this Kraken squad. Seattle is heading out on a five-game road trip that will test its depth, resilience, and ability to compete when the comforts of Climate Pledge Arena are nowhere to be found. It’s hard for fans to gauge just how good (or bad) Seattle is at this point.
CBS’ recent NHL power rankings had the Kraken at No. 27. They have a pair of 6-1 wins over Calgary, but that team came into this season with a similarly poor outlook. If you're looking for an early measuring stick for this team, look no further than the schedule staring them in the face.
Detroit. Washington. Philadelphia. Tampa Bay. Florida.
The Kraken have five games spread across nine days, with little room to catch their breath and even less opportunity to hide their weaknesses.
Analysis: Kraken Could Make Two Big Simon Edvinsson Offers
The Seattle Kraken have tried desperately to make impact additions to their roster. Unfortunately, general manager Jason Botterill’s attempted trades for Artemi Panarin and Jason Robertson did not come to fruition.
But, there’s a new big fish available on the market. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Freidman reported that restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson “prefers” a trade from the Detroit Red Wings. That’s a little softer than the explicit trade request that their former captain Dylan Larkin made in the offseason. Both are still with the organization, as of now.
According to all reports, Edvinsson has been a good soldier throughout this situation. The restricted free agent reported to training camp without team-supplied insurance or a contract extension. The 23-year-old waited out Detroit’s laborious and ultimately unsuccessful general manager search. He is now in Sweden practicing with his former SHL team, Frolunda HC.
The Kraken have started the season 2-2-0 and have a solid top-four defense group in Vince Dunn, Adam Larsson, Brandon Montour, and Ryker Evans. But when a player of Edvinsson’s ilk–a young, 6-6, and defensively sound blueliner who’s averaged over 20-minutes a night the last two seasons–become available, you have to check-in.
Analysis: Catton, Wright Showing Development for Kraken Early
The Seattle Kraken’s success this season is dependent on Berkly Catton and Shane Wright. If the Kraken, despite their low playoff odds, can make the postseason: it will probably be because Wright and Catton took steps forward. If the Kraken miss the playoffs, but these two youngsters improve, that gives Seattle something to build on for the future.
So far, the 2-1 Kraken have gotten exactly what they needed from Wright and Catton. They started the season with youngster Ryan Winterton, but practiced most of training camp with Kaapo Kakko who rejoined them on the third line yesterday. Regardless the third forward, this third line has been impactful for head coach Lane Lambert.
“They're both using their speed for sure,” Lambert said after yesterday’s 6-1 win over the Calgary Flames. “They seem to be getting into more of a rhythm of reading off each other. It was real nice play they made on Shane’s goal. We just want to keep that going, keep that trend going… Kaapo was good with those kids in training camp.”
Kraken Off to Most ‘Prolific’ Start in Franchise's Short History
The NHL is playing an 84-game schedule this year. It’s going to feel more like a marathon than ever before. Yet, for a three-game stretch, things feel different for the Seattle Kraken. That’s a dangerous feeling of course. Those good vibes could float away and disappear like an ember from a campfire caught in an updraft. But for now, this is all we have to go on.
There were, and still are, legitimate concerns about the 2026-27 Kraken. Scoring has been a major concern for most of this franchise’s existence, dating back to its inaugural season of 2021-22. For at least the first three games, those concerns have been addressed.
Analysis: Jordan Eberle, Kraken Get Offensive in 6-1 Season-Opening Win Over Flames
It’s true the Seattle Kraken were facing the Calgary Flames, a team expected by most prognosticators to be at the bottom of the NHL standings this season and competing for a top draft pick. It’s also true tonight was just the first of a long 84-game season.
But make no mistake: the Kraken couldn’t have been much more dominant than they were in a season-opening 6-1 victory, kicking off year No. 2 of the Lane Lambert era with a bang.
“It’s good to see us start that way,” Vince Dunn said postgame. “It’s good to get that confidence rolling. It’s a quick turnaround after preseason. It was a pretty well-rounded team effort there. That’s huge.”
Kraken, Flyers Flip Prospects as Seattle Trades for Devin Kaplan
Ahead of tonight’s season opener, the Seattle Kraken and Philadelphia Flyers swapped AHL prospects. The Kraken flipped 2022 second-rounder David Goyette for 2022 third-round pick Devin Kaplan.
Both prospects are bound for the AHL this season. Kaplan is a physical, 6-3 winger who spent three seasons at Boston University and earned an NHL game at the end of the 2024-25 regular season. In his senior season with the Terriers, Kaplan had 10 goals and 18 points in 38 games while racking up a lot of penalty minutes.
The 22-year-old scored five goals and 13 points in 49 games as a rookie in the AHL last season. He also had 62 penalty minutes. Kaplan is on the last season of his entry-level contract and should slot into Coachella-Valley’s bottom-six forward group to start next season.
Analysis: Three Things That Must Happen for Kraken to Make Playoffs in 2026-27
The Seattle Kraken have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last three seasons and four of their five seasons as a franchise. If they want to end that drought in 2026-27, they cannot simply hope that things break their way. They need tangible improvements in the areas that have held them back year after year.
Nothing is guaranteed, but if the Kraken can check these three boxes, they could give themselves a legitimate chance to return to the postseason in year No. 2 under the watch of coach Lane Lambert:
Two 30-Plus Goal Scorers
Nothing like saying the Kraken need something that has never happened in franchise history before. The Kraken have only had one 30-goal scorer ever with Jared McCann’s 40-goal performance in 2022-23. His 29 goals that following season is the second most in franchise history.
Kraken the Ice: New-Look Lineup, Bold Predictions for Seattle Entering 2026-27 Season
Following another season without a playoff berth, expectations remain tempered at best in the Pacific Northwest for the Kraken with coach Lane Lambert at the helm for his second year.
With opening day just a few days away, hosts Nick Lee and Josh Frojelin examine Seattle's roster construction and projected lineup for the 2026-27 season, dish out bold predictions for the team and individual players, and discuss whether or not the Kraken will be in the mix for a top draft pick in the lottery once again or bound to surprise in a jam-packed season preview episode of Kraken the Ice.
Kraken Struggle Defending Power Play, Drop Preseason Finale 4-3 to Canucks
Not able to muster late magic as they did the night before, the Seattle Kraken finished the preseason 3-1, falling to the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 on Saturday night at Rogers Arena.
Overall, Lane Lambert’s group looked solid, jumping out to an early two-goal lead. But a Ryan Winterton penalty gave the Canucks a late power play, which they capitalized on.
Mackie Samoskevich, who took a big hit on Thursday night, missed the game with a day-to-day upper-body injury. With players moving up the lineup as a result, Oscar Fisker-Mølgaard drew into his fourth preseason game on the bottom line. He might have beat out Curtis Douglas and Ben Meyers for the 13th forward roster spot, but that decision will be made official with the roster moves this week.
The Kraken got an early power play goal from Brandon Montour, his second of the preseason. Across the two games with the Kraken bonafide NHL’ers, the team went 1-of-4 on the power play. Bobby McMann continued his goal scoring ways as well, helping the Kraken build a 2-0 lead.
Analysis: Takeaways One Week Into Kraken Training Camp
Only a week after camp opened, the Seattle Kraken are already closing in on the end of their brief preseason slate. They completed two games last weekend, winning both of the matchups against the Canucks and Flames, before defeating Calgary again 4-3 on Thursday night at Climate Pledge Arena.
What have we learned about Lane Lambert’s squad in year two so far? Who has made the biggest impression? Let’s discuss three takeaways after a week of camp and three preseason contests:
Upstart youngsters get reassigned
Ty Nelson is making it increasingly difficult to ignore him. The 23-year-old defenseman scored in both of Seattle’s preseason games last weekend, including a goal in Sunday’s 4-2 victory over Calgary. But the goals are only part of what has made Nelson stand out. The problem for Nelson? Seattle has a crowded blue line, and the Kraken ultimately reassigned him to Coachella Valley following the weekend.
Outplayed for Two Periods, Kraken Storm Back for 4-3 Shootout Preseason Win vs. Flames
Final score notwithstanding, the Seattle Kraken were largely outplayed by the Calgary Flames’ AHL roster in their third preseason game on Thursday night. But a third period comeback allowed the home team to squeak out a 4-3 victory.
Even in a win, the Kraken were comfortably outshot 35-26 and had two players ejected. In total, there was 69 penalty minutes assessed in the game, but hockey can be a weird sport and despite the shot discrepancy not going in their favor, they finished on a strong note to erase a 3-1 deficit.
As opposed to the Flames, who more resembled the Calgary Wranglers, the Kraken iced their likely opening night roster. The only difference would be the fourth line of Curtis Douglas, Oscar Fisker-Mølgaard, and Ben Meyers making way for Jacob Melanson, Frederick Gadureau, and Ryan Winterton. The top-nine featured Matty Beniers with Jared McCann and Mackie Samoskevich, Chandler Stephenson alongside Jordan Eberle and Bobby McMann, and Berkly Catton centering Shane Wright and Kaapo Kakko. The defense was as expected.
Midway Through Preseason, Kraken Announce First Wave of Roster Cuts
After winning a pair of preseason games this weekend, the Seattle Kraken cut 26 players from their training camp on Monday. The majority of those players, including Jani Nyman, Ty Nelson, Jagger Firkus, Tyson Jugnauth, and Eduard Sale, were assigned to the Coachella Valley Firebirds, while three others were reassigned to their junior team.
In the aftermath of those moves, Kraken training camp now sits at 25 players with two exhibition games left and the season set to begin on October 1.
Notably, this means centers Jake O’Brien and Oscar Fisker-Mølgaard and defenseman Ville Ottavainen have shown enough in preseason games and training camp to stick around for the next two games at minimum. O’Brien should earn another preseason game, but is a longshot considering the solidified center group the Kraken possess. Fisker-Mølgaard has the versatility to play wing or center on the fourth line, but is battling Ryan Winterton, Jacob Melanson, Curtis Douglas, Ben Myers, and Frederick Gaudreau. It’ll be tough for the youngster to beat out two of those players.
Kraken Win Second Preseason Game with Unproven Roster, Edge Flames 4-2 at Climate Pledge
Sunday night’s Seattle Kraken preseason game was closer to the Coachella Valley Firebirds versus the Calgary Wranglers than it was to Kraken versus the Calgary Flames. Truthfully, we learned more about the Seattle Kraken projected roster from who was not in the lineup.
But nonetheless, the Kraken still handled business with a 4-2 win at Climate Pledge Arena.
Ty Nelson scored a second preseason goal and continued his strong camp. As of now, he’s the main young defenseman making a bid for a roster spot for the Kraken. Nelson led defensemen in ice time tonight and, at 5-on-5, Seattle outshot Calgary 18-9 with Nelson on the ice. Per Natural Stattrick, Nelson was a positive in every metric they track.
“He certainly has a little bit of a knack for joining offensively, but [he has] a really good head on his shoulders defensively,” head coach Lane Lambert said of Nelson. “And he skates well, so he can close quickly. That’s important to be able to do in this league, because if you don’t and you’re a step behind, the puck ends up in the back of your net.”
Kraken Depth Shines in 4-2 Preseason Win vs. Canucks
The Seattle Kraken iced a roster of depth and bubble players, against a Vancouver Canucks team of a similar caliber. Still, the Kraken took care of business with a 4-2 win, where the team showed the wealth of talent battling for spots in the bottom of the lineup.
Seattle didn’t have any of their certain top-nine forwards (Jared McCann, Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle, Bobby McMann, Chandler Stephenson, Mackie Samoskevich, Shane Wright, Kaapo Kakko, and Berkly Catton) play in the game. The “top line” featured Oscar Fisker-Mølgaard centering Frederik Gaudreau and Jani Nyman. Only one other line featured NHL hopefuls: Jake O’Brien with Jacob Melanson and Ben Myers.
Defensively, the Kraken also played more fringe roster players in Ryan Lindgren, Ville Ottavainen, Josh Mahura, Tyson Jugnauth, Cale Fleury, and Ty Nelson. Joey Daccord was pulled after saving all 14 shots he faced, and Nike Kokko allowed two goals on six shots.
PODCAST: Kraken Kick Off Training Camp, Aims to Make Strides in Lane Lambert’s Second Season
A new season has officially arrived for the Seattle Kraken, and though expectations outside the organization remain relatively low after missing the postseason a year ago, the team hopes to turn the corner in Lane Lambert's second season.
Kraken the Ice host Nick Lee discusses Seattle's choices for captain alternates behind Jordan Eberle, breaks down what fans should be keeping a close eye on during the Kraken's preseason slate, and revisits playoff odds with the offseason now in the rear view mirror as camp gets underway.
Kraken Set Their Leadership Group, Tab Jordan Eberle as Captain With Four Alternates
It’s just about hockey season. And that means announcing captains and alternates. The Seattle Kraken are heading into the 2026-27 season with a familiar face leading the way and two defensemen officially taking on larger leadership roles with a few returning faces.
The Kraken announced Wednesday that Jordan Eberle will serve as team captain for a third consecutive season, while defensemen Vince Dunn and Brandon Montour have been named alternate captains. They join returning alternate captains Matty Beniers and Adam Larsson to form Seattle's leadership group.
Eberle's continued presence at the top of the group provides the Kraken with a steady veteran voice as the franchise enters another important season. The 36-year-old has worn the captain's “C” since the 2024-25 season and has become one of the team's most recognizable leaders both on and off the ice. He led the squad in goals last season with 26.
But perhaps the most interesting part of this year's announcement is the decision to give Dunn and Montour the “A.” Neither selection comes as a major surprise when looking at how both defensemen have grown into leadership roles in Seattle.
Analysis: 5 Kraken Youngsters to Watch at Rookie Camp
Ushering in a new season, rookie camp begins for the Seattle Kraken on Friday. For many Kraken youngsters, rookie camp and the scrimmage against the Vancouver Canucks’ rookies on September 12 and 13 are just the typical preseason rituals. Many of these players will return to their junior team after training camp or are already penciled into the Coachella Valley Firebirds lineup.
But for some of these players, rookie camp serves as an extension of training camp. As part of the new NHL and NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, there’s only four preseason games and training camps were shortened. As a result, many NHL teams have invited youngsters on the bubble of the roster to get them playing early and make early assessments on their opening night rosters.
Looking towards rookie camp, which players bear watching with eyes on earning an AHL or NHL role?
Jani Nyman
Nyman has played parts of two seasons in the NHL and been a great scorer in the AHL. He averaged just 10:34 of ice time when he played in the NHL last season, and had four goals and seven points in 28 games, not taking quite the jump the organization hoped.
The 22-year-old Nyman is still waivers exempt, and is in a crowded forward group. His previous NHL games played and 49 goals in 117 AHL games might not matter. On the NHL roster, the Kraken has offensive winger options like Jared McCann, Jordan Eberle, Kaapo Kakko, Berkly Catton, and Mackie Samoskevich, who was acquired from the Florida Panthers this offseason. Competing for fourth line minutes, there’s also still recently re-signed Jacob Melanson, Curtis Douglas, Ryan Winterton, and Ben Myers.
‘Thrilled to Be Back’: Kraken Re-sign Jacob Melanson to Three-Year Deal
Locking up one of their young players for the foreseeable future, the Seattle Kraken re-signed winger Jacob Melanson to three-year, $4.35 million contract on Friday. The deal carries a $1.45 AAV and the 23-year-old will remain a restricted free agent when it expires.
The 6-1 Melanson played 36 games with the Kraken last season, scoring two goals and five points. He had nine goals and 19 points in 28 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, adding a goal and five points in 11 AHL playoff games for the team. That was a big step up from 2024-25, where Melanson tallied eight goals and 13 points in 42 games with Coachella Valley.
Such improvements provided more than enough reason for the Kraken to extend Melanson, a player who they believe could have more room to grow in coming years.
“We’re excited to re-sign Jacob,” general manager Jason Botterill said in the team’s press release. “He brought a lot of physicality and energy to our group last season, and we’re looking forward to seeing more from him these next few years.”
BREAKING: Shane Wright ‘Fully Committed’ to the Kraken, Per Agent
Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright was reportedly set to be traded this offseason. Contrary to that reporting, Wright’s agent Kurt Overhardt tells the Emerald City Spectrum that the young center is “fully committed” to Seattle as of now.
“There is nothing we can discuss right now, we will see how things develop over the next few weeks,” Overhardt shared in a statement. “Until that time, Shane is fully committed to the Kraken and that is all he is focused on now.”
In July, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that Wright’s camp was working with general manger Jason Botterill on a trade. Other executives who’ve spoken to Seattle said there’s obviously an agreement between team and agent to work together, but the Kraken made it extremely clear they expect a fair price and won’t be pressured into anything they don’t want to do.
Overhardt agreed with that reporting, telling the insider, “I can confirm that we have had positive conversations with GM Jason Botterill, and he has agreed to move Shane this summer to a team in need of a top young center.”
Analysis: Shane Wright, Seattle Kraken Need One Another After Rumor-Filled Offseason
Former top-five NHL draft pick Shane Wright and his camp reportedly were working on a trade from the Seattle Kraken early this offseason, and his time with the organization appeared to be coming to an end.
But with no movement yet on the trade front and training camp beginning later this month, it’s possible - if not probable - Wright at least starts next season in Seattle. And that could be best situation for his development and career.
Last season, the 2022 fourth overall pick played 74 games and finished with 24 points, good for ninth on the team. Wright averaged 13:48 of ice time, which was 10th among Seattle forwards. His ice time peaked in February, where he missed most of the month with injury, but averaged 15:40 of ice time through five games. Wright’s scoring and ice time dwindled alongside the Kraken’s playoff chances in the closing stretch.
While these numbers are underwhelming considering Wright’s promise and draft position, it’s in the player and organization’s best interest to play out this season. Wright has one year remaining on his entry level contract and will be a restricted free agent next summer, and quite frankly, there’s two big reasons why staying put would serve him and the organization well in 2026-27.
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